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Construction

Whether it's homes and workplaces, or the roads to reach them, the construction industry builds them. Construction workers build complex petrochemical plants, rebuild cities and towns affected by floods or other natural disasters, or renovate a single bathroom. In Alberta, this industry is tied closely to oil and gas, electrical power generation, and housing.

Gross domestic product (GDP) measures the overall size of an economy. In 2015, construction made up 10.1% of Alberta's GDP. This is a 0.5% decrease from 2013.

Alberta’s GDP

10.1%

Decrease from 2013

0.5%

Sectors

construction, repair, or renovation of buildings, including residential housing, business or commercial buildings, and industrial complexes such as oil refineries or power plants

design and construction of highways, bridges, dams, and pipelines

subdivision and development of land

Workforce

3.1%

The construction industry employed 251,900 people in 2016. This is a decrease of 8,000 jobs (3.1%) from 2015.

87%

87%

219,700 men worked in the industry in 2016 (down 3,800 jobs or 1.7% from 2015)

13%

13%

32,200 women worked in the industry in 2016 (down 4,200 jobs or 11.5% from 2015)

Average Wage

Construction Average Hourly Wage

Provincial Average Hourly Wage

Construction Average Hourly Wage

$33.43

Provincial Average Hourly Wage

$29.06

The average 2016 hourly wage of $33.43 for the construction industry was above the provincial average of $29.61.

Industry Performance

The decline in oil prices has affected almost all construction sectors because construction is closely tied to Alberta's energy industry. Oil sands investment is expected to fall again in 2017 before it stabilizes in 2018. New office construction also looks like it will not grow. In 2016, Calgary led the nation with a 25% office vacancy rate, which indicated that there was little new demand. The provincial government increased its infrastructure Capital Plan by 15%, which helped construction workers earn paycheques during this time.

Alberta’s population grew faster than the national average, but cautious consumers put off the extra expense of buying a new home in 2016. This caused a 34% drop in housing starts. Both Calgary and Edmonton reported record levels of unsold multi-level units and high rental vacancy rates in 2016. The 24,500 housing starts expected for 2017 are unchanged from the previous year. This is despite the rebuilding that followed Fort McMurray’s fire.

Industry Outlook

As the economy improves, business investment in non-residential structures is expected to climb by 5.3% in 2017 and 11.7% in 2018. The approval of major pipelines will lead to billions in capital spending. One possible delay for the Kinder Morgan Trans Mountain pipeline might be British Columbia’s NDP/Green coalition government, which was came to power in 2017.

The market for non-residential structures may also grow as a result of e-commerce. As Albertans do more of their shopping online, companies will need warehouses nearby for fast delivery of goods. Industry experts predict that the Edmonton-Calgary corridor will be an ideal site for the construction of large storage buildings.

The provincial government will spend another $2.45 billion on its infrastructure program in 2017. This five-year, $34.8 billion program was announced after the collapse of crude oil prices. It includes cost-sharing agreements with the federal government of almost $350 million under the Public Transit Infrastructure Fund.

Housing starts are expected to climb by 0.9% in 2017. But as more jobs — and homebuyers — become available in 2018, housing starts will climb by 8.3%. Annual new housing levels will reach 32,600 units by 2040. However, much of that will be multi-family units as seniors downsize and younger, smaller families choose more affordable housing.

Industry Employment Trends

0.4%

Employment in this industry is expected to decrease at an average rate of 0.4% from 2016 to 2019.

OCCinfo has more information about occupations in Alberta, including details about duties, working conditions, educational requirements, employment outlook, and salary ranges. You can also find reports on region-specific information about wages, job vacancies, and hiring difficulties in this industry. Visit the Survey Analysis to learn more.